Method for tilting a seat of a vehicle

ABSTRACT

A method for tilting a seat of a vehicle based on a first threshold low  and a first threshold high  for a first parameter of the vehicle and a second threshold low  and a second threshold high  for a second parameter of the vehicle. The tilt angle of the seat is increased if the first parameter≧first threshold low  and the second parameter≧second threshold high  or if the first parameter≧first threshold high  and the second parameter≧second threshold low .

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present invention claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication Serial No. 60/253,317, filed Nov. 27, 2000 and entitled“Dynamic Adjustable Seating”.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a method for tilting aseat of a vehicle and, more particularly, to a method for tilting a seatbased on multiple parameters with multiple thresholds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003]FIG. 1 is a side view of a seat in a vehicle tiltable by thepreferred method of the invention.

[0004]FIG. 2 is a front view of the seat of FIG. 1.

[0005]FIGS. 3 and 4 are graphical representations of the two parameterwith multiple threshold activation of the preferred method of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED METHOD

[0006] The following description of the preferred method is not intendedto limit the invention to the preferred method, but rather to enable anyperson skilled in the art of vehicle seats to make and use thisinvention.

[0007] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the preferred method of the inventionis preferably used with a seat 10, a control unit 12, a first sensor 14,and a second sensor 16. The seat 10, which functions to support apassenger or driver includes a seat section 18, a back section 20, and atilt mechanism 22. Although the preferred method has been specificallydesigned for tilting the seat 10 of a vehicle 24, the preferred methodmay be designed and used with a seat in other suitable environments,such as in a watercraft or in an aircraft.

[0008] As shown in FIG. 2, the seat section 18 and the back section 20of the seat 10 are preferably made in a conventional manner whichincludes providing a metal frame, a foam cushion, and a cloth or leathertrim (not shown). The seat section 18 and the back section 20 mayalternatively be made in any suitable manner. The back section 20 ispreferably connected to the seat section 18 with a conventionalangle-adjustable mechanism (not shown), but may alternatively beconnected with any suitable device. The seat section 18 is preferablyconnected to the tilting mechanism 22, which is preferably connected tothe vehicle.

[0009] The tilt mechanism 22 of the seating system, which functions toadjust the angle of the occupant of the seat 10 relative to the vehicleduring a situation of lateral acceleration, is preferably made in aconventional manner, which includes gas struts 26 and a pneumatic pump28. Conventional gas struts 26, used in a seat suspension system, aregenerally described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,253 issued on May 9, 2000 andassigned to Sears Manufacturing Company, which is hereby incorporated inits entirety by this reference. The tilt mechanism 22 may alternativelybe made in any suitable manner, such as with hydraulic struts and ahydraulic pump, or with a mechanical plunger and a motor. The gas strut26 is preferably connected to the outer corners of the seat section 18with conventional fasteners (not shown), but may alternatively beconnected to the seat section 18 with any suitable fastener. The seat 10preferably includes four tilt mechanisms 22, but may alternativelyinclude one or more tilt mechanisms 22 at any suitable location. Thepneumatic pump 28 is preferably located under the seat section 18 of theseat 10, but may alternatively be located at any suitable location inthe vehicle 24.

[0010] The control unit 12, which functions to receive and process dataregarding the first parameter and the second parameter and to output anappropriate signal to the tilt mechanism 22, is preferably made in aconventional manner, which includes a microprocessor and a memory device(not shown). The control unit 12 may alternatively be made in any othersuitable manner. The control unit 12 is preferably located within afloor of the vehicle, but may alternatively be located in any suitablelocation in the vehicle.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the sensing of the first parameter and thesecond parameter is preferably accomplished by the first sensor 14 andthe second sensor 16, respectively. In one version of the preferredmethod, the first parameter includes a steering angle of a steeringdevice of the vehicle 24, while the second parameter includes a speed ofthe vehicle 24. In a second version of the preferred method, the firstparameter includes a lateral acceleration of the vehicle 24, while thesecond parameter includes a yaw rate of the vehicle 24. In both versionsof the preferred method, two parameters of the vehicle 24 are used toapproximate the situations in which the driver or passenger on the seat10 of the vehicle 24 may prefer or need to have an increased tilt angleof the seat 10. The increased tilt angle of the seat 10 may allow thedriver or passenger on the seat 10 to better react against thecentrifugal forces induced by a turn or the lateral acceleration inducedby the road. In the first version of the preferred method, the firstsensor 14 is a conventional steering wheel angle sensor coupled to thesteering wheel of the vehicle 24, while the second sensor 16 is aconventional speed sensor connected to the wheels of the vehicle 24. Inthe second version of the preferred method, the first sensor 14 is aconventional lateral acceleration sensor, while the second sensor 16 isa conventional yaw rate sensor, both located in any suitable locationwithin the vehicle 24. In alternative versions of the preferred method,the first parameter and the second parameter may include any suitablecombination of parameters and any suitable combination of sensors.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 3, the preferred method activates the tiltmechanism based on multiple thresholds of two parameters. The activationof the tilt mechanism is based on a first threshold_(low) for the firstparameter, a first threshold_(high) for the first parameter, a secondthreshold_(low) for the second parameter, and a second threshold_(high)for the second parameter. The first threshold_(low)<firstthreshold_(high) and the second threshold_(low)<second threshold_(high).Based on the preferred method, if the first parameter≧firstthreshold_(low) and the second parameter≧second threshold_(high), thecontrol unit will send a signal to the tilt mechanism to increase thetilt angle of the seat. The control unit will also send a signal to thetilt mechanism to increase the tilt angle if the first parameter≧firstthreshold_(high) and the second parameter≧second threshold_(low). Inthis manner, there is a non-tilt region 30 where firstthreshold_(low)≦first parameter<first threshold_(high) and secondthreshold_(low)≦second parameter<second threshold_(high), in which thecontrol unit maintains, and does not increase, the tilt angle of theseat.

[0013] Activation of the tilt mechanisms may be based upon more thanjust two thresholds for the first parameter and the second parameter. Asshown in FIG. 4, activation is also based on a first threshold_(med) forthe first parameter and a second threshold_(med) for the secondparameter. The first threshold_(low)<first threshold_(med)<firstthreshold_(high) and the second threshold_(low)<secondthreshold_(med)<second threshold_(high). In this version of thepreferred method, the control unit also sends a signal to the tiltmechanism to increase the tilt angle if the first parameter≧firstthreshold_(med) and the second parameter≧second threshold_(med). Infurther versions of the preferred method, activation may be based ondozens of thresholds for the first parameter and the second parameter,such that the graphical representation of the thresholds approaches asmoothly curved line.

[0014] The multiple thresholds, including the first threshold_(low),first threshold_(med), first threshold_(high), second threshold_(low),second threshold_(med), and second threshold_(high), are preferablystored within the memory device of the control unit. These thresholdsare preferably set by the supplier or manufacturer of the seat, but mayalternatively be set or modified by the driver or passenger of thevehicle. Further, the thresholds are preferably constant, but mayalternatively be adaptive to the preferences of a particular driver orpassenger.

[0015] As any person skilled in the art of seating systems willrecognize from the previous detailed description and from the figuresand claims, modifications and changes can be made to the preferredmethod of the invention without departing from the scope of thisinvention defined in the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A method for tilting a seat of a vehicle, comprising:sensing a first parameter of the vehicle; sensing a second parameter ofthe vehicle; retrieving a first threshold_(low) for the first parameter,a first threshold_(high) for the first parameter, a secondthreshold_(low) for the second parameter, and a second threshold_(high)for the second parameter, wherein the first threshold_(low)<firstthreshold_(high) and wherein the second threshold_(low)<secondthreshold_(high); and increasing the tilt angle of the seat if the firstparameter≧first threshold_(low) and the second parameter≧secondthreshold_(high) or if the first parameter≧first threshold_(high) andthe second parameter≧second threshold_(low).
 2. The method of claim 1further comprising maintaining the tilt angle of the seat if firstthreshold_(low)≦first parameter<first threshold_(high) and secondthreshold_(low)≦second parameter<second threshold_(high).
 3. The methodof claim 2 wherein said sensing a first parameter includes sensing asteering angle of a steering device of the vehicle.
 4. The method ofclaim 3 wherein said sensing a second parameter includes sensing a speedof the vehicle.
 5. The method of claim 2 wherein said sensing a firstparameter includes sensing a lateral acceleration of the vehicle.
 6. Themethod of claim 5 wherein said sensing a second parameter includessensing a yaw rate of the vehicle.
 7. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising retrieving a first threshold_(med) for the first parameterand a second threshold_(med) for the second parameter, wherein the firstthreshold_(low)<first threshold_(med)<first threshold_(high) and whereinthe second threshold_(low)<second threshold_(med)<secondthreshold_(high).
 8. The method of claim 7 further comprising increasingthe tilt angle of the seat if the first parameter≧first threshold_(med)and the second parameter≧second threshold_(med).
 9. The method of claim8 wherein said sensing a first parameter includes sensing a steeringangle of a steering device of the vehicle.
 10. The method of claim 9wherein said sensing a second parameter includes sensing a speed of thevehicle.
 11. The method of claim 8 wherein said sensing a firstparameter includes sensing a lateral acceleration of the vehicle. 12.The method of claim 11 wherein said sensing a second parameter includessensing a yaw rate of the vehicle.
 13. The method of claim 1 whereinsaid retrieving includes retrieving from a memory device.